As a celebratory message of appreciation for the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, NASA Astronaut Jeff Williams shares heartfelt memories of his childhood introduction to the NPS. Sharing photos he’s taken from the International Space Station of US National Parks, Williams also describes unique attributes of individual parks as seen from space.

Williams includes the dark skies seen from these places, taking a moment towards the end of the video to call attention to the NPS Dark Sky Initiative. Williams calls the NPS Dark Sky Initiative his favorite initiative created by the NPS. The program focuses on preserving areas within the parks that are devoid of artificial light.

It’s encouraging and uplifting to hear Williams describe the tremendous impact the diverse parks, monuments, and historic and cultural sites in his life as well as it’s effect on countless others across the globe. William’s ends the video by quoting John Muir; “The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”